On January 28, supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami turned embroiled in a dispute over front-row seating at a programme in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district, triggering a violent conflict. No less than 65 folks had been injured, and a Jamaat upazila secretary was killed. Police and armed forces personnel had been current on the scene however had been unable to forestall the violence. Comparable clashes have been reported throughout the nation as Bangladesh heads in the direction of nationwide elections on February 12, the primary because the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
The thirteenth nationwide election, involving almost 127 million voters, has raised hopes of a peaceable transition from the post-Hasina interim authorities to an elected administration. However the pre-election violence has posed new challenges to the election course of. No less than 15 political leaders and activists have been killed within the 36 days because the Election Fee introduced the election schedule on December 11, 2025.
For first-time voters like Taimur Mobin, a 22-year-old graduate of a public college in Dhaka, the rising unrest has dampened expectations. “After a mass rebellion that promised the restoration of voting rights, this sort of violence is deeply discouraging,” he mentioned. “If it continues, many citizens particularly aged folks might keep away from polling centres.”
Photos of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the daddy of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are displayed at Bangabandhu Gate in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, February 2, 2026.
| Picture Credit score:
Reuters
Alarming state of affairs
Human rights organisations say the dimensions of violence is alarming. In accordance with the Human Rights Help Society (HRSS), no less than 195 folks had been killed and 11,229 injured in political violence over the previous 17 months. Almost half of these incidents stemmed from inner conflicts inside the BNP and its affiliated our bodies, accounting for 121 deaths and seven,131 accidents. One other rights group, Odhikar, reported an excellent larger toll, stating that 328 folks had been killed and 9,182 injured in political violence between August 9, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
Transparency Worldwide Bangladesh (TIB) warned that the danger of violence might lengthen past polling day. “All of us hope there won’t be a single killing or incident, however we can’t assure that,” mentioned TIB govt director Iftekharuzzaman. “Primarily based on previous expertise, the danger might proceed for a number of days after February 12.”
TIB data present that no less than 600 incidents of political violence had been reported nationwide between August 2024 and December 2025, leading to 158 deaths. Mr. Iftekharuzzaman careworn that Bangladesh’s historical past of violent elections ought to function a warning. “Classes from earlier polls should be used to forestall violence this time,” he mentioned.
Bangladesh Border Guard personnel stand guard as Inquilab Mancha supporters maintain a protest gathering demanding justice for the killing of their celebration chief Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
As polling day approaches, political events proceed to commerce accusations. Jamaat-e-Islami has repeatedly alleged assaults on its ladies activists by BNP supporters and accused the EC of enjoying a “passive position.” Islami Andolan Bangladesh, one other Islamist celebration, has claimed that its feminine campaigners had been attacked by Jamaat supporters. Unbiased candidates haven’t been spared. On February 5, no less than 20 folks, together with an impartial candidate in Chandpur-4 constituency, had been injured in an assault allegedly carried out by BNP supporters. The BNP, in flip, has accused Jamaat of exploiting non secular sentiment and harassing its feminine activists.
Vacuum of accountability
Mr. Shahadat Shadhin, a political analyst and analysis scholar at South Asian College, mentioned the state of affairs displays a failure of authority. “Election-related violence is rising, however I don’t see enough seriousness from the interim authorities,” he mentioned. “The Election Fee is constitutionally empowered throughout elections, but no seen motion has been taken. This vacuum of accountability is extraordinarily alarming.”
Including to the volatility, Dhaka is witnessing main protests seemingly unrelated to electoral politics. On Friday (February 6, 2026), authorities staff staged a sit-in exterior Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s residence demanding implementation of a brand new pay scale. Police dispersed the protest utilizing batons, water cannons and sound grenades, injuring dozens. One other platform, Inqilab Moncho, additionally held demonstrations demanding a UN-supervised investigation into the killing of its spokesperson Osman Hadi.
In the meantime, Bangladesh Military on Thursday (February 5, 2026) reaffirmed its full preparedness to assist conduct the elections and referendum in a “truthful, free and peaceable” method. Its Army Operations Director Brig Gen Dewan Mohammad Monzur Hossain mentioned troops are already conducting in depth field-level actions as a part of all-out preparations.
At the moment the authorities are deploying a large safety equipment, planning to ship 900,000 personnel, together with over 100,000 army members, to protect polling centres from February 8-14. Over half of the nation’s 42,761 polling stations have been categorized as “dangerous” and can obtain heightened safety. In addition to, a complete of 544 non permanent military camps have been arrange in 411 upazilas throughout 62 districts within the nation.
Revealed – February 06, 2026 06:03 pm IST